Signs of Life: Bringing Hope to a “Dying” Parish

When Patrick Peyton first arrived in Scranton, Pennsylvania, from Ireland, he searched for work for weeks without success. Monsignor Kelly tracked him down and offered him a job as a sexton (janitor) in the cathedral—he accepted. Finally, while working in the cathedral, with the silence, peace, and joy of talking to Our Lord and Our Blessed Mother, Patrick experiences a sense of being at home and a place of happiness. Patrick’s dream of becoming a missionary priest is awakened in a new land. ~FatherPeyton.org

Today, guest contributor, Mary Kreger, shares her moving experience as a church custodian.

Help Wanted

In the spring of 2022, our pastor announced after Sunday Mass that the church sacristan and groundskeeper would be leaving the parish for a new job. “On behalf of our church, I want to thank Chuck for his 27 years of faithful service,” our pastor said, adding, “Chuck’s full-time position will now be divided into three part-time jobs, including a church custodian role.”

My ears perked up at this last announcement. They needed someone to clean the church? I could do that. 
“Unless we find someone willing to do these part-time jobs, the parish can’t go on,” the pastor continued. “Please consider applying.”

After Mass, I told my husband, “I think I could do this job.”  He considered the idea and responded, “I’m okay with it,”  as long as you can find a babysitter.” The next day, I called my mother-in-law, who eagerly agreed to watch my children once a week so I could clean.

“Is the church custodian job still available?” I asked our pastor in an email. “If so, I’d love to apply.”

Less than a week later, I had the job. The humble custodian position that no one else at the parish had wanted. 
But I wanted it. I wanted to help our church and saw this unique opportunity to be with Jesus in His house. 

The Glory Place

My favorite time to clean was when the church was quiet: early Monday mornings and late Friday nights.
The church became my glory place during those years. It was where I saw and was seen by the Lord, the site where He reminded me that I was to be His bride, even while living with my family in the world. As I polished the tabernacles and replaced the candles, I grew closer to Jesus.

When I labored in the Lord’s house, I prayed for what I hoped to see at our little parish, although there was no evidence yet. Our church was lifeless. Barren. Close to empty. Without enough parishioners, we never had enough money. The funerals outnumbered the baptisms, twenty to one.

Seeing our need, I prayed to be a sign of life in our empty, aching community. I asked the Lord to take this place's animosity, division, and death and bring about a resurrection. 

A Sign of Life

The Lord swiftly answered my prayer for new life. In August 2022, my husband and I discovered we were expecting our third child.  Although I kept my custodian job throughout my pregnancy, I needed a few volunteers to take over when I went on “maternity leave.” Two of these volunteers were literally sent to me from Jesus—the pastor introduced them to me after Eucharistic Adoration. I guessed they offered to help because they saw a young, pregnant woman struggling to clean the restrooms and mop the floors.

God used my weakness to stir their compassion, and through their compassion, He brought us together. Now, those volunteers have become my friends.

As it turned out, I needed outside help sooner than expected. Our third child arrived two months early, in February 2023. She weighed a mere 3 lbs, 9 oz. My hand covered her entire chest when I came to “hold” her in the NICU.
“We named her Valerie, which means ‘strong,’” I told our family and friends. “Since she’s a preemie, she needs a good, strong name.”

Nothing can describe the joy on our pastor’s face as he baptized Baby Valerie that June. She was a glorious sign of life for our parish, and for a time, our tiniest parishioner. 

Now, at age two, little Valerie can run after her older siblings to find a seat for Sunday Mass. She climbs up onto the pew and smiles at everyone in sight. She and her siblings are no longer the only little ones in the congregation. The church is filling with new families and parishioners again. After a time of emptiness, the Lord is bringing about new life.

Mary Rose Kreger is an author of creative nonfiction and faith-inspired fantasy for teens. She blogs about her spiritual journey at maryrosekreger.com. Mary’s debut YA fantasy novel, AVALON LOST, was an Amazon top release in February 2024. To learn more about Mary's writing and receive free stories, please visit maryrosekreger.substack.com.